116 Hubert D. Astley—Miscellanies


The chilling effect of the rain on the shell had, however, proved fatal

to the chick.



MISCELLANIES


By Hubert D. Astley, M.A.


It is a long time since I have handled a pen in order to write

on my birds or anybody else’s, and even now I can but wander

somewhat promiscuously amongst them as the spirit moves me.

Monsieur Delacour has more than anyone kept the fire of aviculture

burning within me, he whose enthusiasm is ever undimmed, ever

active. I was with him in Paris not long ago. Whither did we

wend our way ? To Notre Dame, to Versailles, the Louvre, and

all the other wonders of the great capital ? No ! To the chauffeur

we said, “ Quai de la Megisserie,” to Travella, where good birds

can be found. I was on my way to Italy, and wanted to take

something that would sing. Owing to the War—and what is not ?—

there were few birds that were extraordinary, but I took away

a lovely mule, Hooded Siskin x Canary, and another, Linnet X Canary,

And then when I was in Milan, having to buy bird-seed, I resorted to

the only bird shop I could find, ordered the seed (at a preposterous

price!) and saw that the birds in the shop were quite plebeian. When

the proprietor said, “ Would the signore like a Cardellino-Canarino

mule ? ” i.e. Hooded Siskin, I answered that I had one. Where did the

signore buy it ? “ From Travella in Paris.” Tapping his chest, he

said, “ That came from me.” I had brought the bird back to its original

dwelling ! and I took the other, which was carefully kept upstairs

away from the common herd.


These Hooded Siskin mules are charming songsters and extremely

handsome, looking like a pure species, or not unlike a refined green

Canary, colour fed, and very successfully coloured too, so that the

orange has flowed throughout, the whole underparts being especially

rich and brilliant. I was offered a female, but as she couldn’t sing, and

I presume would not propagate her race, I declined with thanks.


As a rule cross breeds do not appeal to me, but these particular ones

are an exception.



